At the joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the US held in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, negotiations with Iran and navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz stood out as the main agenda items.
A series of bilateral meetings were held on the sidelines of the meeting, co-chaired by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and rotating president Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, in his meeting with Rubio, discussed developments in the US-Iran agreement and the progress made in negotiations. The two ministers emphasized the importance of ensuring international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz 'without restrictions'.
Faisal bin Farhan also met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to assess regional developments and the implications of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding for regional security and stability.
The Saudi minister also discussed the US-Iran agreement and ways to support diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in his meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.
Bahraini Foreign Minister al-Zayani, in his meeting with Rubio, reviewed the regional situation after the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran and its effects on security and stability. The meeting also discussed the strategic partnership between the two countries and the development of cooperation, including the 'Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement'.
After the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026, Tehran's retaliatory attacks caused civilian casualties in some Arab countries, and negotiations that began on June 21, 2026 aim for an agreement to end the conflict.
In the final communiqué of the meeting, a call was made to maintain the momentum of negotiations to reach a final agreement that would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The statement also said that any restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz are rejected, emphasizing that unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation under international law is fundamental for regional and global security.
The ministers welcomed the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran on June 18, 2026, brokered by Pakistan and Qatar. The agreement envisages a cessation of hostilities, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran, and the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz for global energy shipments. The closure of the strait had led to increases in oil and natural gas prices and inflation.
Meanwhile, Oman announced on Wednesday that a temporary corridor for the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has been allocated in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It was also reported that a plan for the evacuation of more than 11,000 stranded seafarers in the region has been put into effect.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, while 20 percent of the world's oil exports pass through it. Iran and Oman are the littoral states of the strait.
